Photocurrent generation in fullerene–phthalocyanine composite by in situ cationic polymerization

Liquid phthalocyanine and fullerene derivative monomers were synthesized, which can be cationically polymerized either thermally or by light and are suitable for preparing complex solar cell structures, obtainable only by organic vacuum deposition till now. A sandwich solar cell with a bulk heterojunction layer between single layers was shown to produce higher currents and voltages than either pure bilayer or pure bulk heterojunction. The proposed in situ polymerization method can be applied to a variety of active layers for preparation of solution-processed solar cells.

Graphical abstractWe have synthesized liquid monomers of both phthalocyanine and fullerene derivatives, which can be polymerized either thermally or by light and are suitable for preparing complex solar cell structures. We have shown that a sandwich solar cell with a bulk heterojunction layer between single layers produces higher currents and voltages than either pure bilayer or pure bulk heterojunction layers. The proposed in situ polymerization method can be applied to a variety of active layers for preparation of solution-processed solar cells.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide